Illini backfield has some big plans

CHAMPAIGN — When Donovonn Young rushes from the backfield this Saturday, he will have an extra 305 pounds going for him.

More accurately, he’ll have it ahead of him. In a defensive lineman’s uniform. As his lead blocker.

Senior Jake Howe, a 6-foot-3 force on the defensive line, joined up with the running backs in the offseason and has taken mostly offensive reps in the past three weeks.

This is an unusual switch for most linemen; that is, unless they were initially recruited to play fullback.

“This is something I’ve talked to Coach (Tim) Beckman about for the past couple of seasons,” Howe said. “We had a couple of injuries, so I couldn’t really get on that side of the ball. This year, with the depth we have on D-line, we made the decision for me to play more offense.”

Howe is quicker than most his size, and his hands are something Beckman and his staff have bragged about all through training camp. In somewhere near 100 touches, Howe dropped one ball in camp.

“He’s downhill and physical in everything he does,” running backs coach Alex Golesh said. “He’s not afraid to take on a linebacker, he’s got more mass than any linebacker, which is what you like.”

Young loves Howe’s company in the backfield. He reminds Young of the chance he missed running behind former Illini fullback Jay Prosch, who transfered to Auburn after Young’s freshman year. Last season, Prosch helped open gaps for Tre Mason, who set Auburn’s rushing record of 1,816 yards and 26 touchdowns.

“Just having a body like him in the backfield, it’s almost an intimidating factor for a lot of defenses,” Young said. “I told him all I need him to do is get on somebody, and I’ll make him ride.”

Josh Ferguson also is poised to reap the benefits. He enters following a breakout sophomore season, in which he notched 1,351 all-purpose yards. His 535 receiving yards also ranked him second in the nation among running backs.

Last season cemented Ferguson as the No. 1 back, and another year in Cubit’s scheme gives him a chance to perfect his talent as an in-space gap rusher.

“We’ve got guys who have played, and guys who can play,” Ferguson said. “I know what to do.”

Young doesn’t have the same confidence. While Ferguson’s production stunned, Young’s disappointed — him most of all.

The hype of Young swelled with Cubit’s hiring. Last year’s preseason seemed to point to Young as the power back of the season. The plans were grand, but the expectations weren’t met, and slowly Ferguson consumed the spotlight.

“I think Donovonn was coming into last season with high-high expectations, and when Josh took off, that was tough on him,” Golesh said. “That’s a tough pill, going from the next great thing to accepting a role.”

“I started questioning myself, doubting myself,” Young said. “By that time, it was too late to get myself back.”

Compared with his first two seasons, Young saw his numbers dwindle in nearly every aspect.

In 2013, his yards per game dropped from 47.6 to 31.3, a career low by more than 6 yards. His longest run — 21 yards — chalked far beneath his highs of 59 and 52 yards, set during his freshman and sophomore years.

The pressure hasn’t changed in Young’s final season, either. With Ferguson likely to solicit the most attention from defenses, the Illini coaches are looking for Young to shoulder some of the responsibility and split for the reps.

“If there’s one guy out there who we need to help us, it’s (Young),” Cubit said. “We need him to be a player.”

Said Golesh: “For us to be successful, Donovonn needs to take a lot of carries away from Josh, and right now, going into Game 1, that’s what we’re anticipating.”

If Young is being honest, he doesn’t feel like he did much his first two seasons. And last year’s production made him a second-rate back at best. But he knows a bust again this season won’t be from a lack of preparation.

Young’s said his confidence isn’t going to return fully until he steps back onto the field this Saturday. But knowing there are just 12 regular games between now and the end of his career has forced mental toughness to be a point of emphasis — a point he refuses to let soften again.

“Time is precious,” Young said. “I just want to win.”

J.J. Wilson can be reached at wilsn07@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @Wilsonable07.

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